What apprenticeships are available for construction trades workers in Pennsylvania?

In Pennsylvania, registered apprenticeships are administered through the Pennsylvania of Labor and Industry - Registered Apprenticeship, which works with employers and trade union locals to register programs. See the apprenticeship section above for office contact details.

How to Become a Construction Trades Worker in Pennsylvania (2026)

Q: How much do construction trades workers earn in Pennsylvania?

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), construction trades workers in Pennsylvania earned a median annual wage of approximately $49,400. Employment concentration in Pennsylvania is roughly 0.84 of the national average, meaning fewer workers per capita than the U.S. as a whole.

Q: What is the job outlook for construction trades workers in Pennsylvania?

Pennsylvania currently employs approximately 35,920 workers, and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 7.3% national employment change for this occupation from 2024 to 2034.

Updated June 8, 2026 | TradeCareerPath Editorial Team

Pennsylvania employs about 35,920 construction trades workers earning a median $49,400 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Most construction trades workers train through a trade school program or a registered apprenticeship before entering the field in Pennsylvania.

Compare Construction Trades Worker Schools in Pennsylvania

BOC Score, tuition, graduation rate, and median graduate earnings from federal IPEDS and U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard data. Earnings are reported across all programs at the school (all majors), not a single trade. Distance is measured from the page's primary location.
#	School	BOC Score (0–100)	Tuition	Median grad earnings (all majors)	Graduation rate	Online	Distance
1	Pennsylvania College of Technology	71.8	Contact school for pricing	$66,316	Not reported	Yes*	60 mi
2	Frederick Community College	71.1	Contact school for pricing	$54,058	36%	Yes*	68 mi
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3	Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology	67.0	Contact school for pricing	$57,788	Not reported	—	42 mi
4	North American Trade Schools	63.4	Contact school for pricing	$47,948	69%	—	74 mi
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5	Schuylkill Technology Center	60.6	Contact school for pricing	$53,477	60%	—	47 mi
6	Montgomery College	59.0	Contact school for pricing	$55,199	30%	Yes*	89 mi
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7	Lehigh Carbon Community College	47.7	Contact school for pricing	$50,125	Not reported	Yes*	73 mi
8	Berks Career & Technology Center	44.8	Contact school for pricing	Not reported	70%	—	52 mi
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9	Luzerne County Community College	43.0	Contact school for pricing	$49,521	Not reported	Yes*	76 mi
10	Harrisburg Area Community College	37.5	Contact school for pricing	$54,031	21%	Yes*	6 mi
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Schools closest to the page's primary location are gathered first, then ranked by BOC Score; distance from the page's primary location is shown for reference. The BOC Score is an independent measure of school outcomes (graduation, earnings, net price, retention) expressed as a 0–100 percentile within each school's peer group; higher is better and advertising never affects it. *Online availability refers to coursework; hands-on trade training is completed in person. Read the full methodology.

Pennsylvania employs approximately 35,920 construction trades workers according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $49,400 ¹. Nationally, construction trades worker employment is projected to grow 7.3% from 2024 to 2034, with about 129,400 openings per year ². This page covers how to become a Construction Trades Worker in Pennsylvania, including requirements, training programs, and salary data.

At a Glance

Training paths: trade school, community college, or apprenticeship
Typical timeline: 1 to 5 years depending on the path
Median wage (Pennsylvania): $49,400 per year ¹

Quick Answers About How to Become a Construction Trades Worker in Pennsylvania

How to become a Construction Trades Worker in Pennsylvania? Complete a training program or apprenticeship, gain work experience, and meet any state or employer requirements for construction trades workers in Pennsylvania.

How long does it take? Most paths into the construction trades worker field take 1 to 5 years, depending on whether you complete a trade school program, a registered apprenticeship, or a combination of both.

What do construction trades workers earn in Pennsylvania? The median annual wage for construction trades workers in Pennsylvania is $49,400 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $37,480 and experienced professionals can earn $74,670 or more ¹.

How to Become a Construction Trades Worker in Pennsylvania

Finish high school or earn a GED. Most Pennsylvania training programs and registered apprenticeships require a high school diploma or GED to enroll.
Complete a training program or apprenticeship. Enroll in an approved trade school program or a registered apprenticeship in Pennsylvania that combines classroom instruction with supervised hands-on hours.
Gain supervised work experience. Build documented on-the-job hours under a qualified supervisor; confirm the exact total currently required with the licensing board.
Meet state and employer requirements. Confirm any registration, certification, or employer requirements that apply to construction trades workers in Pennsylvania before you start working.

Steps and hour totals vary by credential level; confirm current requirements with the state board before you apply.

Construction Trades Worker Apprenticeship Information in Pennsylvania

Apprenticeships combine paid on-the-job training with classroom instruction and typically last 3 to 5 years. Pennsylvania’s apprenticeship program is administered by the Pennsylvania of Labor and Industry - Registered Apprenticeship ³.

Contact Information:

Office: Apprenticeship and Training Office, PA Department of Labor and Industry
Address: 1301 Labor and Industry Building, Harrisburg, PA 17121
Phone: (800) 932-0665
Email: [email protected]

Construction Trades Worker Wages by Metro Area in Pennsylvania

Construction Laborers Wages by Metro Area in Pennsylvania

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics ( OES data), construction laborers wages in Pennsylvania vary by metro area.

Metro Area	Employment	Median Annual Wage	Avg. Annual Wage	Entry Level (10th pctile)	Experienced (90th pctile)
Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington	14,580	$55,120	$58,940	$38,390	$83,200
Pittsburgh	8,620	$50,600	$54,280	$37,390	$71,850
Lancaster	2,270	$48,670	$51,570	$37,940	$66,570
Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton	1,670	$49,290	$54,880	$37,620	$75,320
Scranton--Wilkes-Barre	1,450	$48,290	$52,690	$37,330	$73,170
Harrisburg-Carlisle	1,370	$49,670	$52,580	$37,920	$69,640
York-Hanover	1,250	$49,350	$53,420	$38,420	$72,110
Reading	990	$48,800	$53,040	$37,810	$71,300
State College	620	$53,420	$54,530	$37,990	$71,300
Erie	540	$46,480	$47,940	$35,450	$63,140
Chambersburg	440	$46,860	$48,310	$37,480	$60,070
Altoona	350	$45,820	$46,930	$35,610	$60,370
Williamsport	250	$46,360	$49,700	$36,620	$65,710
Gettysburg	240	$48,010	$48,340	$36,250	$60,810
Lebanon	240	$47,530	$48,990	$35,760	$61,510
Johnstown	210	$45,320	$49,040	$35,280	$69,110

Wages reflect survey data and vary based on experience, credentials, employer, and local market conditions. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May .

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the job outlook for construction trades workers in Pennsylvania? Pennsylvania currently employs approximately 35,920 construction trades workers ¹. Nationally, construction trades worker employment is projected to grow 7.3% from 2024 to 2034 ².

What training programs are available in Pennsylvania? Options include trade schools, community colleges, and apprenticeship programs. Use the school finder above to search for programs in Pennsylvania. You can also contact the Pennsylvania of Labor and Industry - Registered Apprenticeship for apprenticeship opportunities.

How much do construction trades workers earn in Pennsylvania compared to the national average? The median annual wage for construction trades workers in Pennsylvania is $49,400, which is $2,670 above the national median of $46,730 according to BLS data ¹.

In Pennsylvania

Best Trade Schools in Pennsylvania (2026)

Top local programs

Explore More Trades in Pennsylvania

Citations

About this guide: Researched and written by the TradeCareerPath Editorial Team. Our editorial team researches and sources every trade school and career guide using federal labor and education data, including BLS OEWS and Employment Projections, DOL apprenticeship records, IPEDS, College Scorecard, and state licensing boards. We follow the editorial standards documented at /editorial-policy/.

References

Bureau of Labor Statistics - Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics: https://www.bls.gov/oes/ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎
Bureau of Labor Statistics - Employment Projections: https://www.bls.gov/emp/ ↩︎ ↩︎
Pennsylvania of Labor and Industry - Registered Apprenticeship: https://www.apprenticeship.gov/ ↩︎

Data sources

Figures on this page are sourced from the federal and state datasets below. Methodology: how we rank and source data.

Data	Provider	Vintage
Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)	U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics	May 2025
Employment Projections	U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics	2024-2034
Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System	National Center for Education Statistics (IPEDS)	2024
College Scorecard (school-level outcomes)	U.S. Department of Education	latest release
College Scorecard (field-of-study earnings)	U.S. Department of Education	latest release (updated 2026-06-12)
Occupational licensing requirements	CareerOneStop (U.S. Department of Labor)	latest release (updated 2026-02-22)
Registered apprenticeship programs	CareerOneStop / Apprenticeship.gov (U.S. Department of Labor)	latest release (updated 2025-10-25)
O*NET occupation profiles (skills, tasks, tools, job zones)	U.S. Department of Labor (O*NET / Employment & Training Admin.)	O*NET 29.1 (updated 2026-06-13)